Method and apparatus for locking vehicles on movable platforms

ABSTRACT

A parking system and method adapted to complete automation is provided. Vehicles are stored on individual storage platforms occupying parking spaces arranged by parallel rows and in defined areas on the floors of a multi-floor building. Certain rows for vehicle movement are designated as aisles and the spaces crosswise make up what are designated as bays. The platforms are mechanically moveable laterally and a selected space is left unfilled in each bay which enables any selected service aisle to be cleared by shifting storage platforms as required and makes each storage platform accessible. Each area on each floor has its own aisle clearing mechanism. During parking and discharge operations which may be completely automatic the platforms are shifted as required and the vehicle is mechanically moved down a selected cleared service aisle from or to an elevator which services that particular aisle on each floor. Plural independent elevators are employed. Each elevator is adapted to mount an elevator platform and at the ground or base level each elevator platform is detachable from the elevator and is mechanically moveable laterally independently of the elevator itself. A particular elevator platform is thereby enabled to either mate with an elevator which mates with a particular entranceway or with an elevator which mates with a particular service aisle. Alternatively, the elevator platform may be moved to a base level position which mates with no elevator. Each elevator after receiving an incoming vehicle can rotate 180* for discharge orientation of the vehicle and mechanical means are provided for moving the vehicle on and off the elevator platforms.

United States Patent 1 Small 1 1 Jan. 16, 1973 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOCKING VEHICLES ON MOVABLE PLATFORMS [76] Inventor: George Milton Small, 310 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh, NC. 27608 [22] Filed: Sept. 14, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 71,800

[52] US. Cl. ..214/l6.l CC, 2l4/16.l DB [5 l] Int. Cl. ..E04h 6/06 [58] Field of Search ..214/l6.l C, 16.1 CC, 16.1 CA,

2l4/16.l D, 16.1 DB, l6.l DC

Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-R. B. Johnson Attorney-B. B. Olive [57] ABSTRACT A parking system and method adapted to complete automation is provided. Vehicles are stored on individual storage platforms occupying parking spaces arranged by parallel rows and in defined areas on the floors of a multi-floor building. Certain rows for vehicle movement are designated as aisles and the spaces cross-wise make up what are designated as bays. The platforms are mechanically moveable laterally and a selected space is left unfilled in each bay which enables any selected service aisle to be cleared by shifting storage platforms as required and makes each storage platform accessible. Each area on each floor has its own aisle clearing mechanism. During parking and discharge operations which may be completely automatic the platforms are shifted as required and the vehicle is mechanically moved down a selected cleared service aisle from or to an elevator which services that particular aisle on each floor. Plural independent elevators are employed. Each elevator is adapted to mount an elevator platform and at the ground or base level each elevator platform is detachable from the elevator and is mechanically moveable laterally independently of the elevator itself. A particular elevator platform is thereby enabled to either mate with an elevator which mates with a particular entranceway or with an elevator which mates with a particular service aisle. Alternatively, the elevator platform may be moved to a base level position which mates with no elevator. Each elevator after receiving an incoming vehicle can rotate 180 for discharge orientation of the vehicle and mechanical means are provided for moving the vehicle on and off the elevator platforms.

23 Claims, 50 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAN 1s lsrs SHEET UlUF 19 INVENTOR GEORGE MILTON SMALL ATTORNEY PATENTEDJAN 16 I975 3.710.957

sum near 19 INVENTOR GEORGE HILTON SMALL ATTORNEY PATENTEDJAH 16 I973 SHEET UBUF 19 FIG. 6

INVENTOR GEORGE MILTON SMALL ATTORNEY PATENTEDJAN 16 1975 SHEET 05 [1F 19 R L m m m H Wm 1 m E 09 m Y a I mm? E 3 Q m 15 r. $3 $7 mg 8: mo: 07... I. O@ m? i. Omw 0; n \x I) E \z I F f mm 0S @Q @wr m9 @Q mm B? m i \8 w: p

Q 2% o@ 0? mm m 2 or 05 8 L Q mm EL V ATTORNEY PATENTEDJMI 16 I975 SHEET [18 [1F 19 l NVENTOR GEORGE MILTON SMALL PATENTEDJAR 16 I975 SHEET U7UF 19 FIG 16 lNvENTOR GEORGE MILTON SMALL ATTORNFW 4 PATENTEUJAH 1 6 I973 3.710.957

SHEET 08 [1F 19 l N \/E NTOR czoace MILTON SMALL ATTOR N EY PATENTEDJANIBIHH 3.710957 sum 100$ 19 FIG. 23

INVENTOR GEORGE MILTON SMALL ATTORNFY PATENTEUJAN 16 1915 3.710.957

gfigxwm J I J 17 7 W 193 194 176 1 78 173 176a I \L 195" l NVENTOR GEORGE MILTON smu.

ATTORNEY PATENTEUJAH 16 I975 sum 13 [1F 19 6 '4 a 9m 5 I m m Aa 3 6 4 w A 6 AM If WEN TOR GEORGE HILTON SMALL BY FIG. 37 168/ ATTORNEY PATENTEDJAH 16 ms SHEET 1H [1F 19 INVENTOR GEORGE nnxrou SHALL ATTORNEY PATENTEUJAN 16 I975 SHEET lSUF 19 m 4 0% M 6 L. B 5 M 7 B 8 3 2 M 6 5 O M B INVENTOR GEORGE MILTON SMALL FIG. 41

ATTORNEY PATENTEDJAu 16 I975 3.710.957

SHEET lBUF 19 Carrier spotting 173 l A I l I r ISQ cearlng\ {1/ 169 k m j i a PI Carrier spotting-- i /173 l I I0] L 15 Aisle c| zaring 169 jg .T v FIG. 44

f 176 n l i I 173 Carrier spotting- F I IE 17% /172 L Aisle clearing- 1712/ PM) W l I J VE N TOR GEORGE MILTON SHALL N IUMHY 

1. In a multi-story parking machine for storing unattended free wheeled vehicles and the like, in combination: a. a basic machine structure providing a plurality of base level and other vertically spaced parking levels with each level having at least one parking area made of rectangular spaces defined by tracking for said vehicles, each space corresponding in width to the width of the widest and in length to the length of the longest vehicle to be stored, said spaces being arranged to form longitudinal and lateral rows which on the upper levels are aligned with those below, each said lateral row being designated as a bay and selected of said longitudinal rows being designated as aisles and which aisles are adapted to allow vehicular movement along the length thereof, said basic structure including at the base level a selected number of laterally spaced entranceways having tracking arranged to receive parked unattended free wheeled vehicles and to orient a selected number of streams of incoming and outgoing vehicular traffic in the direction of said aisles; b. a selected number of independently operable vehicle lifts one for each entranceway and located forwardly of said entranceways, each said lift being adapted for individual selective actuation and when actuated and with a vehicle thereon being adapted to rise slightly from the base level, rotate 180* on its own axis to reverse the direction of the vehicle and to then position said vehicle to a selected one of said levels, each said lift having a vehicle lift carrier platform mounted thereon with tracking adapted when in its lowest position to align with a respective entranceway tracking whereby the vehicle may be rolled from such entranceway onto said lift carrier platform and when positioned at a selected parking level being adapted to align the lift carrier platform tracking with the tracking of a selected aisle on such selected level thereby providing for each parking level a corresponding number of lift serviced aisles alternating with non lift serviced longitudinal rows, said lifts having elevating portions adapted to rise from beneath, engage and lift said lift carrier platforms and said lift carrier platforms being physically detachable from the respective elevating portions of said lifts, said lifts further having fixed base level tracking on which said lift platforms are adapted to rest when at said base level and having means to selectively move said lift carrier platforms laterally on such lift base level tracking whereby individual loaded and unloaded lift carrier platforms may be selectively positioned over and between particular lift elevating portions to facilitate entry and discharge of vehicles from said machine; c. a selected number of entranceway moving means, one being provided for each entranceway and adapted for individual selective actuation and when so actuated adapted when an unattended free wheeled vehicle parked at such entranceway is to be parked in the machine to releasably grasp such vehicle at the entranceway and move it forwardly on its wheels on the respective entranceway tracking to the respective lift carrier platform tracking mating therewith and then being adapted to release the vehicle and move clear of such lift carrier platform, and when an unattended vehicle arrives on such lift carrier platform to be discharged at the base level being adapted to releasably grasp such vehicle on the lift carrier platforM and move it forwardly on its wheels from the tracking of such lift carrier platform back to the entranceway tracking mating therewith and then to release the vehicle and move clear thereof for removal by the operator thereof; d. a plurality of rail mounted aisle moving means on each said parking level, one being provided for each respective lift serviced aisle on such level, each said aisle moving means being adapted for individual selective actuation and when so actuated being adapted upon arrival of a vehicle to be stored to move as required to assume an operating position proximate said lift arrival position and at such operating position being adapted to releasably grasp the arriving vehicle and move such vehicle on its wheels from the tracking of the arriving lift carrier platform down the respective aisle tracking and stop such vehicle at a selected aisle space position and there release and clear such vehicle and being adapted when a vehicle at such selected aisle space position is to be discharged to releasably grasp such vehicle and move it on its wheels from such selected aisle space position on the aisle tracking to a respective mating lift carrier platform tracking and there release and clear said vehicle lift carrier platform for repositioning to base level by the respective said lift; e. laterally moveable vehicle storage platforms sufficient in number to fill each space except one empty space in each said bay, each group of storage platforms in each respective bay having tracking extending crosswise of the aisles intersecting therewith and means to shift each respective said storage platform laterally between a position in a respective lift serviced aisle and a position in a non lift serviced longitudinal row, when positioned in a lift serviced aisle each storage platform being adapted to receive a vehicle from or discharge a vehicle to tracking of such lift serviced aisle, in either position being adapted to store a vehicle thereon and being adapted by lateral movement of selected storage platforms in selected bays to remove a predetermined number of said platforms from the same selected lift serviced aisle whereby to clear the tracking of such aisle of said storage platforms for entry or discharge of a vehicle thereon; and f. means to actuate said lifts, entranceway-lift moving means, aisle moving means and storage platforms in an appropriate coordinated sequence during storage and removal of vehicles from said main building structure.
 2. A parking machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said entrance-way-lift moving means comprises means to move the vehicle by engaging and asserting a force on a wheel of the vehicle in the desired direction of movement.
 3. A parking machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said respective aisle moving means comprises moveable support means mounted for movement on rails above each respective lift serviced aisle, said support means having a pair of pivotal arm members adapted to releasably grasp front and rear surfaces of the vehicle and means to actuate said support means for movement on said rails and to actuate said arm members for grasping said vehicle whereby to effect said moving, stopping and clearing of said vehicle.
 4. A parking machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said parking levels above the base level include parking areas over said entranceways and which are arranged to be serviced by said lifts, aisle moving means and storage platforms.
 5. A parking machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said entranceway-lift moving means comprises an endless chain, moveable arm members mounted on said chain and having lowered and raised positions, a pair of spaced and rotatably mounted spindles on said arm members and adapted when said arm members are in a raised position to engage the left front wheel during parking and to engage the left rear wheel of the vehicle during unparking, piston means for raising and lowering said arm members, motor means for driving said chain in one direction for parkiNg and in an opposite direction for unparking and means for actuating said arm member piston means and motor means in an operational sequence.
 6. A parking machine as claimed in claim 5 including a pair of guide bars mounted on a pivotal structure adjacent said entranceway-lift moving means and having piston means to actuate said pivotal structure whereby during parking one of said guide bars rises and guides the wheels on said vehicle and during unparking the other of said guide bars rises and guides said wheels.
 7. A parking machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said aisle moving means includes a base frame mounted for movement on rails above a respective said lift serviced aisle, a pair of subframes mounted on opposite ends of said base frame and moveable back and forth thereon, and a pair of pivotal arm members one on each said sub-frame, and including means to actuate said subframes, pivotal arm members and base frame in an operational sequence to effect said releasable grasping, moving, stopping and releasing of said vehicle.
 8. A parking machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for laterally shifting said storage platforms includes for each bay a pair of axially and rotatably moveable positioning rods extending lengthwise of the bay below the platforms located therein, one of said pair being adapted in any lateral moving operation to move those and only those storage platforms required to be moved to the left and the other of said pair being adapted to move those and only those storage platforms required to be moved to the right, sets of longitudinally spaced selector lugs on each positioning rod adapted according to the rotative position of the positioning rod to provide selective engagement of selected platforms with selected lugs of selected positioning rods, lug connector means mounted below each respective said platform and adapted to engage and be disengaged from said lugs to effect said engagement, a pair of indexing rods extending lengthwise of each said parking area one of said indexing rods being adapted to rotate to a selected rotative position one member in each pair of positioning rods and the other of said indexing rods being adapted to rotate the other member in each pair of positioning rods to a selected rotative position, and positioning rod moving means effective following operation of said indexing rods to selectively move certain of said pairs of positioning rods in certain of said bays to effect said aisle clearing.
 9. The method of machine storing vehicles in a multi-level structure having on each level spaces aligned in longitudinal and lateral rows, said lateral rows being designated as bays and certain of the longitudinal rows being designated for storage only and other longitudinal rows being designated as aisles for storage as well as movement along the length thereof, comprising the steps of: a. at a base level directing the incoming vehicles into laterally spaced plural streams oriented in the direction of the aisles; b. bringing each individual incoming vehicle to a halt in its respective stream and in an unattended entranceway position on wheel guide tracking and with the vehicle free to roll on the wheels thereof; c. mechanically rolling each respective incoming vehicle forwardly on said guide tracking and onto a respective vehicle lift having guide tracking mating with the respective entranceway guide tracking and capable of rotating the vehicle and positioning it at any said level to mate with a respective aisle on such level; d. rotating the vehicle 180 degrees on the lift followed by positioning to the selected level and at a position mating with a respective aisle having guide tracking on such level; e. mechanically rolling said vehicle from said lift down said respective aisle tracking to a selected space and at said space stopping said vehicle on a storage carrier having mating guide tracking and capable of moving laterally from the selected space in said respective aisle to a spaCe in an adjacent said longitudinal row; f. maintaining said vehicle and each successive said vehicle stored on such a said carrier and while always reserving one empty space in each said bay utilizing said lateral shift capability to shift said carriers laterally between said longitudinal rows and aisles to open any said aisle at any time as required and storing said carriers with vehicles thereon in selected ones of said spaces except in said reserved spaces; g. discharging said vehicles from said structure by utilizing said lateral shift capability and said reserve spaces to open the tracking of any aisle at any time as required to allow discharge of vehicles on the tracking at such opened aisle; h. mechanically rolling selected vehicles to be discharged down a respective said opened aisle tracking and onto a respective said lift tracking mating therewith and brought to the respective level having such aisle; i. positioning the vehicle to base level by means of said lift; j. mechanically rolling the vehicle from said lift tracking back to the respective mating said entranceway tracking position for removal by the operator thereof; and k. including the step during handling of the vehicle of mechanically rolling the vehicle onto a laterally moveable lift platform having said lift guide tracking and which platform is detachable from but is adapted to be lifted by a selected said lift and while on such platform lift guide tracking shifting said lift platform and the vehicle thereon laterally clear of the lift whereby to free such lift for receiving another such lift platform.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of mechanically rolling each vehicle onto a respective lift comprises mechanically rasping the left front wheel of the vehicle between a pair of rotatable rollers and moving the rollers in unison to effect rolling of the vehicle.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of mechanically rolling the vehicle along said respective aisle comprises mechanically clamping the vehicle between a pair of pivotal arms mounted on a base frame adapted to move on rails down the respective aisle above the vehicle and after such clamping moving the base frame down said respective aisle, then stopping said base frame and releasing said pivotal arms from the vehicle.
 12. The method of claim 9 wherein during parking or unparking of a vehicle in a selected space said lateral shift capability of said storage carriers is used by laterally shifting those carriers necessary to clear the respective aisle prior to any required lateral shifting of the particular carrier on which the vehicle is to be parked or from which it is to be unparked.
 13. In a parking machine for storing unattended free wheeled vehicles and the like, in combination: a. a basic machine structure providing at least one parking level having at least one parking area made up of rectangular spaces defined by tracking for said vehicles, each space corresponding in width to the width of the widest and in length to the length of the longest vehicle to be stored, said spaces being arranged to form longitudinal and lateral rows, each said lateral row being designated as a bay and selected of said longitudinal rows being designated as aisles and which aisles are adapted to allow vehicular movement along the length thereof; b. a vehicular aisle mover located in each aisle of each said parking level, each said aisle mover being adapted for individual selective actuation and when so actuated being adapted upon arrival at the respective aisle of a vehicle to be stored to move from its then position to an operating position proximate said vehicle arrival position and at such operating position being adapted to releasably grasp the arriving vehicle and move such vehicle on its wheels from the arrival position down the respective aisle tracking and stop such vehicle at a selected aisle space position and there release and clear such vehicle and being adapted when a vehicle at suCh selected aisle space position is to be discharged to move from its then position to a position proximate said aisle space position and there releasably grasp such vehicle and move it on its wheels from such selected aisle space position on the aisle tracking to a respective discharge position and there release and clear said vehicle, each said aisle mover including a base frame and rails, said base frame being mounted for movement on the rails above the respective said aisle which said aisle mover services, a pair of subframes mounted on opposite ends of said base frame and moveable back and forth thereon, and a pair of pivotal arm members one on each said sub-frame, and including means to actuate said sub-frames, pivotal arm members and base frame in an operational sequence to effect said releasable grasping, moving, stopping and releasing of said vehicle; c. laterally moveable vehicle storage platforms sufficient in number to fill each space except one empty space in each said bay, each group of storage platforms in each respective bay having tracking extending crosswise of the aisles intersecting therewith and means to shift each respective said storage platform laterally on such crosswise tracking between a position in a respective aisle and a position in a longitudinal row not an aisle, when positioned in an aisle each storage platform being positioned above the tracking of such aisle and adapted to receive a vehicle from or discharge a vehicle to tracking of such aisle, in either position each said storage platform being adapted to track and store a vehicle thereon and being adapted by lateral movement of selected storage platforms in selected bays to remove a predetermined number of said platforms from the same selected aisle whereby to clear the tracking of such aisle of said storage platforms for entry or discharge of a vehicle thereon; and d. means to actuate said aisle movers and storage platforms in an appropriate coordinated sequence during storage and removal of vehicles from said basic structure.
 14. A parking machine as claimed in claim 13 wherein said means for laterally shifting said storage platforms includes for each bay a pair of axially and rotatably moveable positioning rods extending lengthwise of the bay below the platforms located therein, one of said pair being adapted in any lateral moving operation to move those and only those storage platforms required to be moved to the left and the other of said pair being adapted to move those and only those storage platforms required to be moved to the right, sets of longitudinally spaced selector lugs on each positioning rod adapted according to the rotative position of the positioning rod to provide selective engagement of selected platforms with selected lugs of selected positioning rods, lug connector means mounted below each respective said platform and adapted to engage and be disengaged from said lugs to effect said engagement, a pair of indexing rods extending lengthwise of each said parking area one of said indexing rods being adapted to rotate to a selected rotative position one member in each pair of positioning rods and the other of said indexing rods being adapted to rotate the other member in each pair of positioning rods to another selected rotative position, and positioning rod moving means effective following operation of said indexing rods to selectively move certain of said pairs of positioning rods in certain of said bays to effect said aisle clearing.
 15. A parking machine as claimed in claim 13 wherein said machine includes an entranceway and an entranceway mover having an endless chain, moveable arm members mounted on said chain and having lowered and raised positions, a pair of spaced and rotatably mounted spindles on said arm members and adapted when said arm members are in a raised position to engage the left front wheel during parking and to engage the left rear wheel of the vehicle during unparking, piston means for raising and lowering said arm members, motor mEans for driving said chain in one direction for parking and in an opposite direction for unparking and means for actuating said arm member piston means and motor means in an operational sequence.
 16. A parking machine as claimed in claim 15 including a pair of guide bars mounted on a pivotal structure adjacent said entranceway mover and having piston means to actuate said pivotal structure whereby during parking one of said guide bars rises and guides the wheels on said vehicle and during unparking the other of said guide bars rises and guides said wheels.
 17. In a multi-story parking machine for storing unattended free wheeled vehicles and the like, in combination: a. a basic machine structure providing a plurality of base level and other vertically spaced parking levels with each level having at least one parking area made of rectangular spaces defined by tracking for said vehicles, each space corresponding in width to the width of the widest and in length to the length of the longest vehicle to be stored, said spaces being arranged to form adjacent longitudinal and adjacent lateral rows which on the upper levels are aligned with those below, each said lateral row being designated as a bay and selected of said longitudinal rows being designated as aisles and which aisles are adapted to allow vehicular movement along the length thereof, said basic structure including at the base level a selected number of laterally spaced entranceway having tracking arranged to receive parked unattended free wheeled vehicles and to orient a selected number of streams of incoming and outgoing vehicular traffic in the direction of said aisles; b. a selected number of independently operable vehicle lifts one for each entranceway and located forwardly of said entranceways, each said lift being adapted for individual selective actuation and when actuated and with a vehicle thereon being adapted to rise and to position said vehicle to a selected one of said levels, each said lift having a vehicle lift carrier platform mounted thereon with tracking adapted when in its lowest position to align with a respective entranceway tracking whereby the vehicle may be rolled from such entranceway onto said lift carrier platform and when positioned at a selected parking level being adapted to align the lift carrier platform tracking with the tracking of a selected aisle on such selected level thereby providing for each parking level a corresponding number of lift serviced aisles alternating with non-lift serviced longitudinal rows; c. a selected number of base level located entranceway moving means, one being provided for each entranceway and adapted for individual selective actuation and when so actuated adapted when an unattended free wheeled vehicle parked at such entranceway is to be parked in the machine to releasably grasp such vehicle at the entranceway and move it forwardly on its wheels on the respective entranceway tracking to the respective lift carrier platform tracking mating therewith and then being adapted to release the vehicle and move clear of such lift carrier platform, and when an unattended vehicle arrives on such lift carrier platform to be discharged at the base level being adapted to releasably grasp such vehicle on the lift carrier platform and move it forwardly on its wheels from the tracking of such lift carrier platform back to the entranceway tracking mating therewith and then to release the vehicle and move clear thereof for removal by the operator thereof; d. a selected number of aisle moving means located on each said parking level, one being provided for each respective lift serviced aisle on such level, each aisle moving means being mounted for movement on rail means extending parallel to said lift serviced aisle and adjacent the path of the respective lift serviced thereby, each said aisle moving means being adapted for individual selective actuation and when so actuated being adapted in timed relation to the arrival of a vehicle to be stored to moVe as required to assume an operating position on its respective said rail means proximate said lift arrival position and at such operating position being adapted to releasably grasp the arriving vehicle and move such vehicle on its wheels from the tracking of the arriving lift carrier platform down the respective aisle tracking and stop such vehicle at a selected aisle space position and there release and clear such vehicle forwardly, rearwardly and laterally and being adapted when a vehicle at such selected aisle space position is to be discharged to move on its said respective rail means to assume a position proximate said aisle space position and to releasably grasp such vehicle and move it on its wheels from such selected aisle space position on the aisle tracking to and in timed relation with the arrival of a respective mating lift carrier platform tracking and there release and clear said vehicle and its carrier platform for repositioning to base level by the respective said lift; e. laterally moveable vehicle storage platforms sufficient in number to fill each space except one empty space in each said bay, each group of storage platforms in each respective bay having supporting tracking extending crosswise of the aisles intersecting therewith and means to shift each respective said storage platform laterally between a position in a respective lift serviced aisle and an immediately adjacent position in a non-lift serviced longitudinal row, when positioned in a lift serviced aisle each storage platform being adapted to receive a vehicle from or discharge a vehicle to tracking of such lift serviced aisle, in either position being adapted to store a vehicle thereon and being adapted by lateral movement of selected storage platforms in selected bays to remove a predetermined number of said platforms from the same selected lift serviced aisle whereby to clear the tracking of such aisle of said storage platforms for entry or discharge of a vehicle thereon; f. elevating portions for said lifts adapted to rise from beneath, engage and lift said carrier platforms and said lift carrier platforms being each physically detachable from the respective elevating portions of said lifts and said lifts further including fixed base level tracking on which such lift carrier platforms are adapted to rest when at base level and means to selectively move said lift carrier platforms laterally on such base level lift tracking whereby individual loaded and unloaded lift carrier platforms may be selectively positioned over and between particular lift elevating portions to facilitate entry and discharge of vehicles from said machine; and g. control means to actuate said lifts, lift elevating portions, entranceway-lift moving means, aisle moving means and storage platforms lift means in an appropriate coordinated time sequence during storage and removal of vehicles from said main building structure.
 18. A parking machine as claimed in claim 17 wherein each said respective aisle moving means comprises moveable support means mounted for movement on said rail means, said support means having a pair of pivotal arm members adapted to releasably grasp front and rear surfaces of the vehicle and means to actuate said support means for movement on said rails and to actuate said arm members for grasping said vehicle whereby to effect said moving, stopping and clearing of said vehicle.
 19. A parking machine as claimed in claim 17 wherein said entranceway-lift moving means comprises an endless chain, moveable arm members mounted on said chain and having lowered and raised positions, a pair of spaced and rotatably mounted spindles on said arm members and adapted when said arm members are in a raised position to engage a front wheel during parking and to engage a rear wheel of the vehicle during unparking, operator means for raising and lowering said arm members, motor means for driving said chain in one direction for parking and in an opposite direction for unparking and means for actuatIng said arm member operator means and motor means in an operational sequence.
 20. A parking machine as claimed in claim 17 including a pair of guide bars mounted on a pivotal structure adjacent said entranceway-lift moving means and having actuator means to actuate said pivotal structure whereby during parking one of said guide bars rises and guides the wheels on said vehicle and during unparking the other of said guide bars rises and guides said wheels.
 21. A parking machine as claimed in claim 17 wherein each said aisle moving means includes a base frame mounted for movement on said rail means adjacent a respective said lift serviced aisle, a pair of sub-frames mounted on opposite ends of said base frame and moveable back and forth thereon, and a pair of pivotal arm members one on each said sub-frame, and including means to actuate said sub-frames, pivotal arm members and base frame in an operational sequence to effect said releasable grasping, moving, stopping and releasing of said vehicle.
 22. A parking machine as claimed in claim 17 wherein said means for laterally shifting said storage platforms includes for each bay a pair of axially and rotatably moveable positioning rods extending lengthwise of the bay below the platforms located therein, one of said pair being adapted in any lateral moving operation to move those and only those storage platforms required to be moved to the left and the other of said pair being adapted to move those and only those storage platforms required to be moved to the right, sets of longitudinally spaced selector lugs on each positioning rod adapted according to the rotative position of the positioning rod to provide selective engagement of selected platforms with selected lugs of selected positioning rods, lug connector means mounted below each respective said platform and adapted to engage and be disengaged from said lugs to effect said engagement, a pair of indexing rods extending lengthwise of each said parking area one of said indexing rods being adapted to rotate to a selected rotative position one member in each pair of positioning rods and the other of said indexing rods being adapted to rotate the other member in each pair of positioning rods to a selected rotative position, and positioning rod moving means effective following operation of said indexing rods to selectively move certain of said pairs of positioning rods in certain of said bays to effect said aisle clearing.
 23. In a multi-story parking machine for storing unattended free wheeled vehicles and the like, in combination: a. a basic machine structure providing a plurality of base level and other vertically spaced parking levels with each level having at least one parking area made of rectangular spaces defined by tracking for said vehicles, each space corresponding in width to the width of the widest and in length to the length of the longest vehicle to be stored, said spaces being arranged to form adjacent longitudinal and adjacent lateral rows which on the upper levels are aligned with those below, each said lateral row being designated as a bay and selected of said longitudinal rows being designated as aisles and which aisles are provided with means to support vehicles for movement along the length thereof, said basic structure including at the base level a selected number of laterally spaced entranceways having tracking arranged to receive parked unattended free wheeled vehicles and to orient a selected number of streams of incoming and outgoing vehicular traffic in the direction of said aisles; b. a selected number of independently operable vehicle lifts one for each entranceway and located forwardly of said entranceways, each said lift being adapted for individual selective actuation and when actuated and with a vehicle thereon being adapted to rise and to position said vehicle to a selected one of said levels, each said lift having a vehicle lift carrier platform mounted thereon with tracking adapted when in its lowest position to aligN with a respective entranceway tracking whereby the vehicle may be rolled from such entranceway onto said lift carrier platform and when positioned at a selected parking level being adapted to align the lift carrier platform tracking with the tracking of a selected aisle on such selected level thereby providing for each parking level a corresponding number of lift serviced aisles alternating with non-lift serviced longitudinal rows; c. a selected number of base level located entranceway moving means, one being provided for each entranceway and adapted for individual selective actuation and when so actuated adapted when an unattended free wheeled vehicle parked at such entranceway is to be parked in the machine to releasably grasp such vehicle at the entranceway and move it forwardly on its wheels on the respective entranceway tracking to the respective lift carrier platform tracking mating therewith and then being adapted to release the vehicle and move clear of such lift carrier platform, and when an unattended vehicle arrives on such lift carrier platform to be discharged at the base level being adapted to releasably grasp such vehicle on the lift carrier platform and move it forwardly on its wheels from the tracking of such lift carrier platform back to the entranceway tracking mating therewith and then to release the vehicle and move clear thereof for removal by the operator thereof; d. a selected number of aisle moving means located on each said parking level, one being provided for each respective lift serviced aisle on such level, each aisle moving means being mounted for movement on rail means extending parallel to said lift serviced aisle and extending horizontally across and adjacent each side of the vertical path of the respective lift serviced thereby, each said aisle moving means being adapted for individual selective actuation and when so actuated being adapted in timed relation to the arrival of a vehicle to be stored to move as required to assume an operating position on its respective said rail means proximate and, above said lift arrival position and at a vertical position above said vehicle support means and at such operating position being adapted to releasably grasp the arriving vehicle and move such vehicle on its wheels from the tracking of the arriving lift carrier platform down the respective aisle tracking and stop such vehicle at a selected aisle space position and there release and clear such vehicle forwardly, rearwardly and laterally and being adapted when a vehicle at such selected aisle space position is to be discharged to move on its said respective rail means to assume a position proximate said aisle space position and to releasably grasp such vehicle and move it on its wheels from such selected aisle space position on the aisle tracking to and in timed relation with the arrival of a respective mating lift carrier platform tracking and there release and clear said vehicle and its carrier platform for repositioning to base level by the respective said lift; e. laterally moveable vehicle storage platforms sufficient in number to fill each space except one empty space in each said bay, each group of storage platforms in each respective bay having supporting tracking extending crosswise of the aisles intersecting therewith and means to shift each respective said storage platform laterally between a position in a respective lift serviced aisle and an immediately adjacent position in a non-lift serviced longitudinal row, when positioned in a lift serviced aisle each storage platform being adapted to receive a vehicle from or discharge a vehicle to tracking of such lift serviced aisle, in either position being adapted to store a vehicle thereon and being adapted by lateral movement of selected storage platforms in selected bays to remove a predetermined number of said platforms from the same selected lift serviced aisle whereby to clear the tracking of such aisle of said storage platforms for entry or discharge of a vehicle thereon; and f. control means to actuate said lifts, entranceway-lift moving means, aisle moving means and storage platforms lift means in an appropriate coordinated time sequence during storage and removal of vehicles from said main building structure. 